Examining the vegan and vegetarian options at Eldridge Street newcomer Family Recipe. (Fork In The Road)

Speaking of Family Recipe, it’s one of two LES venues highlighted as affordable, enjoyable alternatives to expensive hotspots. Sauce, Frank Prizinzano’s new Italian joint at Rivington and Allen, is the other. (Eater)

Gaia Italian Cafe on East Houston Street celebrates its first anniversary tonight; stop by to congratulate them and sample some goodies between 5 and 8 p.m. (TLD inbox)

The Meatball Shop’s Michael Chernow has a second career: modeling. (GrubStreet)

Donate to support Holocaust survivors; get homemade knishes. (KnisheryNYC)

EV Grieve and the Village Voice have the (rather amusing) scoop on Bowery Beef, the new restaurant opening in the Bowery Poetry Club next week.

The Voice profiles Gaia, an Italian cafe that just opened on East Houston.

Metromix sizes up Beauty & Essex: “Every neighborhood has to grow up. Beauty & Essex is the kind of place you can bring your best client or your uptown arm candy to, without feeling like you’re betraying the neighborhood’s soul.”

Bowery Boogie hears Andy ‘n’ Bao, the latest Michael Huynh concept at 154 Orchard, should be opening in a couple of weeks.